Safety ski binding



Nov. 4,-1952 M. H. CUBBERLEY 2,616,714

SAFETY sx1 BINDING Filed May 2e, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Patented Nov. 4,19,52

i UNITED j STATES PATENT OFFICE I u .4 y. l ,A M...5;616714V-4. v y

f SAFETSKI BINDIG f Y Machen H. cbberley, Belleville, N. J'.'

f Application May'zt, 195o, serial No. v164,364

to the vusers ski boot, and which, under certain' conditions, isself-releasing for freeing the boot from the ski.

YThe present inventionhas for an object to' provide a novel ski bindingwhereby the toe and heel of a Vski boot are separately engaged and heldattached to the ski by front and rear springloaded retainingdevices'whioh are adapted to independently exert regulatablepredetermined hold down pressure upon the boot' in directionsubstantially perpendicular to the 'plane of the ski, whereby tonormally bind the ski to the boot; said clamping devices (as a safetyfactor) being respectively so constructed that each is independentlyyieldable to force tending to lift the' boot away from the ski, if thelifting force exceeds the normal spring induced hold down pressure ofeither clamping device', so that, in either case, the boot will beautomatically released from the ski; the toe clamping device beingadditionally yieldable'to laterally directed or twisting thrust if theforceof such thrust exceeds the normal spring induced holding pressure.

The invention has for a further object to provide, ina ski binding, anovel construction of spring-'loaded boot toe holding device which isself-releasing'under excessive force exerted in any 'angular directionWithin a range of arc 0f 180 above the plane of the ski.

'Another' object of the invention is to provide, in a ski binding, anovel construction of springloaded boot toe holding device which sofunctions that Vit oifers greater resistance to automatic release underlifting force exerted perto an. improved construe Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the ski boot toe holding device, showing the same in boot releasingconditionunderthe'thrust of excessive force exerted parallel vortransversely angular to the plane of theskiandjFig. 4'is a sideelevational view of the ski boot toe holding device, showing the samein'boot releasing condition under the thrust of excessiveupwardly'directed force exerted per,- pendicular to the plane of the ski.

.-Figgjuisja 'side V elevational view, 0n an enlarged scale, 4ofj'avmodified construction ofA the ski boot toejholding device, shown in itsoperative relationto the boot toe; and Fig. 6 is adetail transversevertical sectional view, taken on line finFigi. y

4Fig7 is a plan Vview of the modified constructipnv Vbootxtoe holdingdevice, showing the same mboot releasing condition under the thrustof'excessive force exerted parallel or transversely angular to the planeof the ski; and Fig. 8 is a side elevational View of the modiedconstruction of skiboot toe holding device showing the same in bootreleasingcondition under the thrust of excessive upwardly directed forceexerted perpendicular to the plane of the ski.

Similar characters cf reference are employed in the hereinabove`described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character l'indicates the bodyof a ski, and the referencev characters II and I2 respectively indicatethe sole of the boot is equipped with a specially pendicular to theplane of the ski than it does 'i to releasing force exerted parallel ortransversely angular to the plane of the ski.

Othere objects of this invention, not at this time 'more particularlyenumerated, will be understood'from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are l height. :Said ange orabutment is preferably designed toe lplate I3, and the heel of the skibootliis also equipped with a specially designed heel plate I4;

The'heel plate I 4 is aixed to the bottom of the bootvheel I2,` as byfastening screws I5, and

so that its rearward portion projects somewhat beyond the rear-end ofsaid boot heel. The rearward end of the heel plate I4 terminates in anupstanding'flange or abutment I6 of suitable providedV witha rearwardlyprojecting perpendicular kfulcrum nosing II, the purpose of which willbe later herein disclosed.

The heelI holding device, in a preferred fo thereof, is substantially ofthe same form, and

construction disclosed in my copending applica# tion for Letters PatentSer. No. 70,739, led January 13, 1949, now Patent No. 2,573,955,patented November 6, 1951, and comprises a carrier frame formed by abottom plate I8 having at its opposite sides, adjacent to its inner end,transversely aligned, upstanding bearing ears I9. rIhe inner end of thebottom plate I8 is provided with an upstanding stop member of reducedwidth. The outer end of the bottom plate I3 is provided with anupstanding perforate thrust bearing member 2i. Extending between andsupported by the bearing ears I9 is a transverse pivot pin or shaft 22.pivot pin or shaft 22 is a clamp plate 23 which is provided at itsopposite sides with dependent perforate side iianges 24 through whichthe pivot pin or shaft 22 extends so as to provide a fulcrum about whichthe clamp plate 23 can turn. The medial forward marginal portion of theclamp plate 23 is cut back, as at 25, to form forwardly projecting clamptongues at the respective sides of the clamp plate. These clamp tonguesare bordered at their outer sides by the forward portions of thedependent side flanges 24 of the clamp plate 23. Said clamp tongues 25are adapted to straddle the stop member 2G of the carrier frame, thusholding the heel plate I4 and boot heel against lateral displacement orshift. Integral with the clamp plate 23, and extending upwardly andrearwardly from said cut back forward marginal portion 25 thereof, is alever member 21 by means of which the clamp plate can be manuallyactuated. Integral with the media rearward marginal portion of the clampplate 23 is a pair cf laterally spaced knuckle members 28. Pivotallyjoined to the rear end of the clamp plate 23 by a cross pin 29, which iscarried by the knuckle members 23, is the forward end of a rearwardlyextending thrust rod 30. The rearward end portion of said thrust rodextends slidably through the perforate thrust bearing member 2l of thecarrier frame, being thus fulcrumed on the latter, at a somewhat upwardinclination relative to the horizontal plane of the pivot pin or shaft22 about which the clamp plate 23 turns; the degree of such inclinationbeing predetermined by a stop nut 3| which is threaded onto the rearwardend of said thrust rod 30, to normally abut stop projections 32 withwhich the thrust bearing member 2| is provided. The forward portion ofthe thrust rod 3IJ is provided with screw threads and threaded thereonis an adjustable thrust nut 33. Mounted on and around the thrust rod3i), intermediate the thrust nut 33 and the thrust bearing member 2l ofthe carrier frame, is a compression spring 34. The bottom plate I8 ofthe carrier frame is affixed to the ski III by screws 35.

The toe plate I3 of the boot is also affixed to the toe portion I I ofthe boot sole, as by fastening screws 36. The forward portion of the toeplate I3 projects somewhat forwardly beyond the extremity of the toeportion I I of the boot sole. The forward end of the toe plateterminates in an upstanding iiange 31, from the upper end of whichextends a keeper tongue 38 which is rearwardly and downwardly bent tooverlap and strongly grip the top marginal part of the toe portion II ofthe boot sole, thus reenforcing the toe plate against displacement fromoperative relation to the latter. Intersecting the juncture of the ange31 and keeper tongue 38 of the toe plate I3 is a centrally disposedindenting notch or seat 39 adapted to be engaged by a member of the boottoe holding device, as will presently be more vfully explained.

The boot toe holding device, in one illustrative embodiment thereof asshown in Figs. 1 to 4 Fulorumed on saidA 4 inclusive, comprises a baseplate 43 which is suitably aixed to the ski I0, preferably by fasteningscrews 4I which pass downwardly through slots 42 in said base plate,whereby the latter can be longitudinally adjusted upon the ski, so as todispose the boot toe holding device for proper engagement with the sizeof boot worn by the ski user. Aflixed to the base plate 45 is alongitudinally disposed carrier frame comprising a perpendicular innerend plate 43 and a perpendicular outer end plate 44 bridged by a topplate 45. The outer end plate 44 is perforated, and provides a thrustbearing plate for purposes presently to be disclosed. The inner endportion of the base plate 40 is provided with upwardly offset abutmentmembers 45 upon which the toe plate I3 of the boot sole impinges orrests, when lthe boot is footed upon the ski I3, whereby to properlyposition the toe plate for engagement by the boot toe holding device.

Extending through an opening in the inner end plate 43 of the carrierframe, to project outwardly therefrom toward the toe portion II of theski boot, is a latching member 41 of substantially conical form, thebase of which fits the opening in said inner end plate 43. Said latchingmember terminates at its outer end in an axially projecting latchingstud 48. This latching stud preferably includes a diametrically enlargedannular stop portion 49 disposed intermediate its free end portion andthe body of the latching member 41. The latching member 41 is providedat its inner end with a diametrically enlarged annular fulcruming flange50 which normally bears flatly against the inner face of the carrierframe end plate 43. Projecting axially rearward from said fulcrumingange 5I) is a coupler pin or stud 5I. Extending slidably through theouter end or thrust bearing plate 44 of the carrier frame is a thrustrod 52, the forward end of which is pivotally engaged by the coupler pinor stud 5I of the latching member 41. Said thrust rod 52 is normallyaxially aligned with the latching member 41 and its latching stud 43.Said thrust rod 52 is provided with screw threads and threaded thereonis an adjustable thrust nut 53. Mounted on and around the thrust rod 52,intermediate the outer end or thrust bearing plate 44 and the thrust nut53, is a compression spring 54, the tensional pressure or thrust ofwhich can be predetermined by adjusting the thrust nut 53. y

To attach the ski to the users boot, the latter is applied to the skibetween the toe and heel holding devices. To permit this, the heelholding device is opened by swinging downward the lever member 21, thusupswinging the clamp plate 23 and thereby raising the clamp tongues 26out of the way, so that the boot may be footed upon the ski, with theboot toe plate I3 inserted beneath the latching stud 43 of the boot toeholding device in such manner as to seat said latching stud in the notchor seat 33 of said toe plate I3 (see Figs. 1 and 2). This being done,the heel I2 of the boot is brought down on the ski sov as to positionthe upstanding flange or abutment I3 of the heel plate I4 in front ofthe open heel clamping device, and in the path of down-swinging movementof said clamp plate 23 and its clamp tongues 26. The boot being thusfooted upon the lski IIJ, the fulcrum nosing I1 of the heel plate I4will be abutted against the stop member 26 so that the boot is engagedbetween the toe and heel holding devices and thereby held againstlongitudinal shift or disavoid frictional resistance to lateral,oscillationv of the heel plate flange or abutment I6 relative to saidclamp tongues 26 about the fulcruming nosing l1 as a pivot underautomatic boot releasing conditions, as will presently be explained.

' It will be understood that, when the heel holdingdevice is operative,the toe holding device will be also operative by reason of the seatingof the locking stud 4,3 in the notch or seat 39 ofthetoe plate I3, sothat the toe of the boot isnormally held against both upward andlateraldisplacement from the ski, unless the tensional thrust of thecompression spring 54 is overcome by abnormal uplifting or laterallyexerted force.

' It will be obvious, in thel event of a fall or other o ccurrencelwhich induces an abnormal force tending to separate either the toe orheel of the boot from the ski, and which is in excess ofthe force oftheA spring loading, that either the vtoe or the heel holding device, asthe case may. be, will snap open, and thus release the boot from theski. If one holding device snaps open the boot will be displacedtherefrom and willpull away from the other holding device, even ifthevlatter remains closed.

' The heel holding device holds the heel of the boot down uponl the skiso long as the' force of the spring induced holding pressure (which actsperpendicularly to the plane of thevski) is not exceeded by acounterrelease force.` On the other hand, the ,toe holdingdevice holdsthe toe of the boot against displacement from the ski so,v long as theforce of the spring induced holding pressure (which acts bothperpendicular andA parallel to the plane of the ski) is not exceeded byan upwardly directed or laterally directed counterrelease force.

In the toe holding device the latching means provided by the elements4l, 48, 49, 50 and 5I constitute a bell-crank type of lever which isfulcrumed by the periphery of the fulcruming flange 5l! upon the innerface ofthe inner end plate 43 of the carrier frame. The outer arm of-this lever includes. the latching stud 48, and the inner or oppositearm of said lever includes the coupler pin orstud 5i. Normally the leverthus provided, when the fulcrumng flange 50 flatly abuts the inner endplate 43 of the carrier frame, being held in such condition by thevtension of the compression spring 54, disposes the coupler pin or stud5I and latching stud 48 in axial kalignment with the thrust rod 52, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby disposing the latching stud 48 subjectto the embrace of the toe plate notch or seat 39 and thus in operativeholding relation to the boot toe, and so as to resist both lateral anduplifting displacement of the'latter from the ski.

When the boot toe holding device is in the above described retainingrelation to the boot toe, in the event a twisting force, i. e. a lateralforce in either direction, is transmitted to the boot toe in amount inexcess of the holding force exercised by the compression spring 54, thelatching stud arm of the lever is swung laterally or transverselyangularly about a peripheral point of the fulcrum ange 5l] whichimpinges upon the ,innerv end plate 43 of the carrier frame. vSuchmovement of the lever swings thecoupler pin arm of the lever` inopposite direction, and thus, by the exerted leverage thereof, moves`the thrust vmd5!) rearwardly against the tension of the compressionspring 54. If such twisting or laterally applied force is continued andis great enough to effect the required amplitude of lever movement, vthelatching stud 48 will be withdrawn from the toe plate notch or seat 39,thus freeing the boot toc from the ski (see'Figg). Such lateral movementof the boot toev will cause the boot heel plate to pivot about its.fulcrum nosing Il, and after the boot toe is freed` from thetoe holdingdevice, boot heel will readily pull away from the heel holding deviceeven though the latter remains closed. It will be obvious, thatcorresponding releasing action of the toe holding device will occur inresponse to an uplifting force perpendicular to the plane of the ski(see Fig. 4), if such force is sufficient to overcome the tension of thecompression spring 54.

In the form of toe holding device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the fulcrumingflange 5i] of the latching lever is of circular periphery so that theradial offset of the lever fulcrum is the same for all directions oflever movement. Under these circumstances, the latching lever requiresapplication thereto of the same amount of releasing.

force regardless of direction of application whether said directionfislateral, transversely angularor perpendicularly upward; in otherwords'the resistance to release of the boot toe offered by thecompression spring `54 is uniform with respect both to twisting orlaterally exerted releasingv force and to uplifting releasing force. Insome cases, however, it may be preferable that greater resistance toreleasing force applied perpendicularly upward be offered by the toeholdingV means than that offered to releasing force applied laterally orin transverse directions. Means to modify the toe holding device forsuch differential operation is shown in Figs. 5 to 8. Such modied formof the toe holding device comprises the substitution in the latchinglever structure, for the annular fulcrumingflange 50 vof circularperiphery, of a rectangular fulcruming flange 50', which is so relatedto the longitudinal axial alignment of the latch stud 48 and coupler pinor stud 5| that its bottom fulcruming edge 55 is perpendicularly offsettherefrom a greater distance than are the laterally offset distances ofthe opposite side fulcruming edges 5B and 5l, the offsetting distancesof which are alike. Under these circumstances, the lengths of thebell-crank leverage arms are greater in the perpendicular plane of thelatching lever structure than they are in the transverse plane of saidlatching lever structure, and consequently the throw of said leverstructure in perpendicular plane is of greater amplitude than is thethrow thereof in transverse plane. As a consequence of this, compressionspring 54 must be compressed to a greater degree to effect release ofthe uplifted boot toe than is necessary to effect release vof thelaterally or transversely moved boot toe, and therefore greaterresistance to boot toe uplifting force is offered by the compressionspring 54 than is offered by the latter to lateral or transverse forceapplied to the boot toe. In other words, greater release force mustbeapplied for uplifting release 7 of the boot toe than is necessary to beapplied for lateral release of said boot toe. This will be understood bycomparison of the showings of Figs. 8 and 'l of the drawings.

It may here Vbe pointed out that the boot toe holding device accordingto this invention is not dependent upon associated use with theparticular style or construction of boot heel holding device shown inthe drawings and above described, and, although the latter is perhapspreferable, various other and different forms of heel holding devicesmay be utilized within the broader aspects of my invention.

While I have described my invention in preferred embodiments thereof, itis to be understood that the words which I have used are words ofdescription rather than of limitation, and that changes within thepurview of the appended claims may be made without departing from thetrue scope and spirit of my invention in rits broader aspects.

What I claim is:

l. A ski binding ccmprising longitudinally spaced holding devicesadapted to respectively engage a ski boot at toe and heel portionsthereof, the boot toe holding device including a toe plate afiixed tothe ski boot, said toe plate having a projecting `portion indented by aseating notch, holding means cooperative With said toe plate, saidholding means comprising a latching lever and a spring actuated thrustmeans, a universal joint connecting said lever and lthrust means in endto end relation, means to support the thus connected lever and thrustmeans in normal axial alignment with the outer end of the lever engagedin the seating notch of the toe plate with boot toe holding eiect, andthe lever having a radially extending fulcruming flange intermediate itsends and normally bearing iiatly against a portion of the support underthe pressure of the thrust means, peripheral .portions of thefulcr-uming flange providing fulcrum points about which the lever mayselectively pivot upon said portion of the support when the outer end ofthe lever is subjected to transversely applied or uplifting forcesuiiicient to overpower the counterforce of the thrust means, thereby todisengage the lever from the seating notch of the toe plate with boottoe releasing eiect.

2. A ski binding as defined in claim 1 including means for adjusting thetensional force exerted vby the spring vactuated thrust means upon thelever.

3. In a ski binding having longitudinally spaced holding devices adaptedto respectively engage a skiboot at toe and heel portions thereof., aboot toe holding device comprising a toe plate a'ixed to the ski boot,said toe plate .having a projecting portion `indented by a seatingnotch, a latching lever means, a support through Which the lever meansextends, the lever means Vhaving a radially extending .fulcruming flangeintermediate its ends .and adapted to normally bear against the inner-face of said support, the outer end of the lever means normallyengaging in said seating notch of the toe plate with boot toe holdingeiect, spring actuated thrust means, means to support said thrust means,and means to pivotally couple the inner end of the lever means with thethrust means, peripheral portionsof said fulcruming flange providingfulcrum points about which the lever means may selecttively pivot whenits outer end is subjected to transversely applied or uplifting forcesufficient to overpower the counterforceof the spring actuated thrustmeans, thereby to disengage the lever means from the seating notch ofthe toe plate with boot toe releasing effect.

4. A ski binding as defined in claim 3 including means for adjusting thetensional force exerted by the spring actuated thrust means upon thelever means.

5. In a ski binding having longitudinally spaced holding devices adaptedto respectively engage a ski boot at the toe and heel portions thereof,a boot toe holding device including a toe plate aiiixed to the ski boot,said toe plate having a projecting portion indented by a seating notch,holding means cooperative with said toe plate comprising a lcarriermeans aixed to the ski, said carrier means including longitudinallyspaced upstanding inner and outer end plates, a latching lever extendingthrough said inner end plate, a spring actuated thrust rod extendingthrough said outer end plate 'in normal axial alignment with said lever,means pivotally connecting the rearward end of said lever with theforward end of said thrust rod, the forward end of said lever having alatching stud to engage in the seating notch of the toe plate when thelever is in normal axial alignment with the thrust rod, and a radiallyextending fulcruming flange intermediate the ends of said lever adaptedunder the thrust of said thrust rod to bear flatly against the innerface of the inner end plate of the carrier means in the normally axiallyaligned position of the lever relative to the thrust rod, peripheralportions of the fulcruming flange providing fulcrum points impingingupon said inner end plate of the carrier means about which the lever mayselectively pivot when the latch kstud providing outer end of the leveris subjected to transversely applied or uplifting force suiiicient tooverpower the counterforce of the thrust rod, thereby to disengage thelatch stud from the seating notch of the toe plate with boot toereleasing effect.

6. A ski binding as dened in claim 5 including means for adjusting thetensional force exerted by the spring actuated thrust rod upon thelatching lever.

7. A ski binding as defined in claim 6 including means to longitudinallyadjust the carrier means on the ski relative to a ski boot to be engagedby the boot toe holding device.

8. A ski binding as defined in claim 5 including means to longitudinallyadjust the carrier means on the ski relative to a ski boot to be engagedby the boot toe holding device.

9. A ski binding as defined in claim 5 wherein the fulcruming flange isof greater downward radial projection than of lateral radial projectionvfor the purposes described.

l0. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced holding devicesadapted to respectively engage a ski boot at toe and heel -portionsthereof, the boot toe holding device including a toe plate alxed to Vtheski boot and having a projecting portion indented by a seating notch,holding means cooperative with said toe plate comprising a latchinglever anda spring actuated thrust means, a universal joint connectingsaid lever and thrust means in end to end relation, means to support thethus connected lever and thrust means in normal axial alignment with theouter end of the lever engagedin the seating notch of the toe plate with'boot toe holding effect, the lever 'having a radially extendingfulcruzning flange intermediate'its ends and normally bearing iiatlyagainst -a Aportion of the supportunder the pressure of the thrustmeans, peripheral portions of the fulcrumng flange providing fulcrumpoints about which the lever may selectively pivot upon said portion ofthe support when the outer end of the lever is subjected to transverselyapplied or uplifting force suicient to overpower the counterforce of thethrust means, thereby to disengage the lever from the seating notch ofthe toe plate with boot to relasing eiect, and the boot heel holdingdevice including a heel plate `aiixed to the ski boot, said heel platehaving an upstanding ange at its outer end, a pivoted clamping plate,means on the ski'to support said clamping plate, said supporting 4meanshaving an upstanding stop member opposed to' the heel plate flange, saidheel plate flange having a fulcrum nosing to bear against said stopmember, whereby to pivot the ski boot Vsubject to lateral swingingmovement in the event the boot toe holding device yields to transverselyapplied force, and spring actuated thrust means operative to normallymaintain the clamping plate in holding engagey ment with'the heel plateflange but adapted to clamping plate from the boot heel to therebyrelease the latter.

1l. A ski binding as defined in claim 10 in which the spring actuatedthrust means of both vthe boot toe holding device and the boot heelholding device are respectively provided with means for adjusting thetensional thrust thereof.

MITCHELL H. CUBBERLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,236,874 Hvam Apr. 1, 19412,513,926 Erwin July 4, 1950

